Avocado oil (Prunus Armeniaca)

Origin of Avocado essential oil:
It is native to Central America and Mexico. It is widely cultivated for in
tropical and sub-tropical areas, including Israel, Spain and south Africa.

Description of Avocado essential
oil:
The tree grows to 20 m (65 ft), with alternately arranged, evergreen
leaves, 12-25 cm long. The flowers are inconspicuous, greenish-yellow 5-10
mm wide. The pear-shaped fruit is botanically a berry.The oil is used in
cosmetics, and to some extent in salad dressings. It is a rich heavy oil,
that is deeply penetrating and rich in vitamins A and D, lecithin, potassium
as well as vitamin E. Avocado oil is a penetrating oil that is easily
absorbed and suitable for all skin types. It is an effective skin
moisturizer thanks to its regenerating and structuring abilities. It is
often part of wrinkle fighting creams and dry skin products composition.

Aromatherapy uses:
The aromatherapy properties include regenerative, astringent, carminative,
very penetrating and a superb emollient.

Pharmaceutical uses:
Avocado oil is a penetrating oil that is easily absorbed and suitable for
all skin types. It is an effective skin moisturizer due to its regenerating
and structuring abilities. It offers nourishing for dry and dehydrated skin,
eczema, solar keratosis and improves elasticity. Avocado oil's moisturizing
and skin softening properties make it a valuable addition to anti-wrinkle,
anti-aging and mature skin blends. It is very useful when treating sun or
climate damaged skin that is dehydrated and undernourished as it is said to
help with regenerating the skin and softening the tissue.

Cosmetics and Toiletries:
Avocado helps in rubbing hair. It is also believed to be an effective
sexual stimulant and is used to make ointments aimed at delaying old age.
Avocado oil is especially beneficial in preparations for very dry skin. It
is rich in unsaponifiables, avocado oil has outstanding regenerative
properties. Like most vegetables oils, due to its content in essential fatty
acids, avocado oil offers a restructuring quality, which keeps the skin
moisturized. It is also a good hair growth stimulant. Avocado oil is used in
many cosmetics and beauty preparations including products for damaged hair
(permed or dyed), baby hair, body and hand products (massage oils and
creams, sun care products), face care products, eye creams, nourishing
creams for damaged, mature, dry and sensitive skin and for baby's skin.

Flavorings
In North America, avocados are primarily served as salad vegetables, merely
halved and garnished with seasonings, lime juice, lemon juice, vinegar,
mayonnaise or other dressings. Often the halves are stuffed with shrimp,
crab or other seafood. Avocado flesh may be sliced or diced and combined
with tomatoes, cocumbers or other vegetables and served as a salad. The
seasoned flesh is sometimes used as a sandwich filling. Avocado, cream
cheese and pineapple juice may be blended as a creamy dressing for fruit
salads. Diced avocado can be added to lemon-flavored gelatin after cooling
and before it is set, and chunks of avocado may be added to hot foods such
as soup, stew, chili or omelettes just before serving. In Guatemalan
restaurants, a ripe avocado is placed on the table when a hot dish is served
and the diner scoops out the flesh and adds it just before eating. For a ";gourmet";
breakfast, avocado halves are warmed in an oven at low heat, then topped
with scrambled eggs and anchovies.

In Brazil, the avocado is regarded more as a true fruit than as a vegetable
and is used mostly mashed in sherbet, ice cream, or milk shakes. Avocado
flesh is added to heated ice cream mixes (such as boiled custard) only after
they have cooled. Some Oriental people in Hawaii also prefer the avocado
sweetened with sugar and they combine it with fruits such as pineapple,
orange, grapefruit, dates, or banana. In Java, avocado flesh is thoroughly
mixed with strong black coffee, sweetened and eaten as a dessert. Avocado
slices have been pickled and marketed in glass jars.

Industrial uses:
The oil is used as hair-dressing and is employed in making facial creams,
hand lotions and fine soap. It is said to filter out the tanning rays of the
sun, is non-allergenic and is similar to lanolin in its penetrating and
skinsoftening action. In Brazil, 30% of the avocado crop is processed for
oil, 2\3 of which is utilized in soap, 1/3 in cosmetics. The pulp residue
after oil extraction is usable as stockfeed.